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Topics Covered
Fitness to Ride Seeing and hearing Assessing your health Staying awake Keeping focussed Dangerous Emotions Impairment Facts about alcohol Facts about drugs Taking Risks Peer Pressure Passengers Carrying passengers Taking responsibility for passengers Aggression on the Road Preventing aggression Organ Donor Registry

Personal Strategies
In Chapter 7, Sharing the Road, you learned how to safely share the road with other road users. This chapter outlines strategies you can use to handle situations that can have a negative inuence on you and your riding.

Fitness to Ride
To be in control while riding, you need to be able to rely on the information that your eyes and ears pick up. You must be healthy, rested and focussed.

Seeing and hearing

Thinking Like a Rider
Youre late for work so you start off on your bike quickly. Just as you get to the end of the street you remember that youve forgotten to put your glasses on. You feel in your jacket pocket for them. Theyre not there. Your licence says you must wear corrective lenses when you ride but its not too far to work. What should you do?

Your eyes are the single most important source of information you have when you ride. It is estimated that 80 per cent of all riding information comes through the eyes. Thats one of the reasons your vision is screened before you get your licence. If it is found that you need corrective lenses, this condition will be marked on your licence. You can be ned if you ride without them.

RoadSense Tip
Wearing proper hearing protection while riding is a good idea. This will help protect you against longterm hearing loss while still allowing you to hear critical sounds while riding.

Your sense of hearing also helps you gather information about the riding scene. You need to listen for horns, sirens and train whistles, as well as for unusual noises coming from your bike.

Strategies: Seeing and Hearing Effectively

To see and hear effectively while riding:

Scan systematically as you ride. Use glasses or contact lenses if you need them. Use a faceshield or goggles to protect your eyes, especially if you are wearing contact lenses.

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Keep the volume of headsets and sound systems at reasonable levels. Check that your exhaust system is not so loud that it interferes with your hearing.

Assessing your health

Thinking Like a Rider
You wake up with a cold and you feel awful. But you have to go to work so youve taken some cold medication. As you do your pre-trip check you notice that your vision is blurry, your head feels heavy and youre tired. What should you do?

Even a mild illness, like a cold or the u, can impair alertness, so it is sometimes better to take the bus or get a friend to drive you if you are not feeling well. If you are taking any medications, read the label carefully. If the label says that the drug may cause drowsiness or dizziness, dont ride.
Read labels before taking medications if you plan to ride.
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If you have a health condition that you think might impair your ability to ride, be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before getting on the bike.

Staying awake
Thinking Like a Rider
Youve been on the road all day. Youve made stops every hour, but youre getting really tired. You were planning to travel another couple of hundred kilometres. What should you do?

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Being tired is one of the leading causes of crashes. Fatigue affects all stages of the See-Think-Do strategy. It can cause you to miss seeing things, slow your thinking and lengthen your reaction time.

Strategies: Staying Awake

To stay alert on your bike, especially for long journeys:

Start out well rested. Plan your trip so that you dont ride too far in one day. Take breaks. Walk around and get some exercise. Stop and eat, but avoid heavy meals that will make you sleepy. Dont count on coffee, cola drinks and other stimulants to keep you awake. They dont make you more alert.

Keeping focussed
Thinking Like a Rider
Youve been riding all morning, and most of the time its been raining. Your feet are wet and your ngers are getting numb. You wish you had worn better gear. As you think about this you nd yourself wandering out of your lane position. Whats happening? What should you do about it?

When riding, your mind and senses should be focussed entirely on riding. Distractions can affect your hazard perception and your reaction time.

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Strategies: Staying Focussed
To concentrate while riding:

Make sure you wear the right gear. Being too cold can reduce your ability to focus. Pull over and tend to whatever is distracting you: inspect your bike to identify that strange noise, check your map for the best route or get out your warmer jacket. Tell passengers who want to talk too much that you need to give all your attention to controlling the motorcycle and watching trafc. Keep predicting what might happen and planning your moves. Keep your eyes moving. Dont get distracted by any one thing in the riding environment.

Dangerous Emotions
Thinking Like a Rider
You are riding on a busy four-lane road heading for an appointment. Suddenly a car swerves immediately in front of you into your lane. You have to brake hard to avoid running into it. The car then speeds off and quickly changes to the left lane. You think, What a fool! You feel your anger rising. What should you do?

Riding can be a frustrating experience at times. How can you control your anger while riding?

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Emotions are powerful forces that can interfere with the concentration you need for riding. When you are feeling angry, anxious or sad, you become less alert. Your thinking becomes unclear. Your safety and the safety of others is in danger. At times you may become angry or impatient because of something in the riding environment. Crowded trafc conditions and high-speed freeway riding often cause stress. Being slowed by other trafc when youre in a hurry produces tension. Riders who are tense or stressed are less tolerant of the mistakes of other riders and road users. Whatever the cause of your upset, it is important to look at your emotional tness to ride. Sometimes its best to stay off your bike.

Strategies: Controlling Emotions

Here are some things you can do to help you stay calm and in control while riding:

Keep learning. Analyze previous stressful riding situations you have experienced and gure out what you can do next time to be calmer and safer. Plan ahead. Increase your chances of staying calm by choosing a route that avoids crowded trafc conditions. Allow yourself plenty of time. Being in a hurry can cause you to become angry or frustrated. Realize that if you leave late, youll arrive late. Think of your own safety and the safety of others. This can help you calm down. Be patient remember that all road users make mistakes. Be extra courteous switch your attention from yourself to others. Pull off the road and take a couple of moments to calm yourself. Be honest. Admitting to yourself exactly how you feel can often calm you.

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Impairment
CrashFact
Half of the people killed in motorcycle crashes have alcohol in their blood and, of those, two-thirds had only one or two drinks before the crash.
Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Thinking Like a Rider

You are at a party with a group of friends. You intend to leave soon, but a friend offers you a beer. You say, No, Im riding home pretty soon. He says, Aw, come on, its only light beer. What would you do?

Riding is a complex activity that requires smart decision-making and excellent coordination. Research shows that drinking even a little alcohol affects both of these. Therefore, any impairment makes it impossible to See-Think-Do effectively.

Facts about alcohol

Here are some ways that alcohol can interfere with seeing, thinking and doing.
Ability Riders Symptoms tendency to stare eyes lose reex abilities See reduced coordination of images reduced depth perception reduced peripheral vision reasoning becomes unclear reduced concentration emotional state becomes unstable awareness is reduced reduced muscle control increased impulsiveness reduced coordination Do slowed reaction time balance is affected Effects on the Rider eyes cannot take in information quickly enough can be blinded by glare sees double cannot judge distance and speed of other vehicles may not see hazards approaching from the side thinks mental ability is sharp; however, cannot make smart riding decisions

Think

cannot coordinate steering and braking takes greater risks by speeding or taking chances over-steers or under-steers brakes too hard or not hard enough cannot make turns accurately cannot react to emergencies quickly can lose control over the bikes stability, especially at slow speeds

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Alcohol Myths Alcohol wont affect me so much if I have something to eat. Alcohol Facts Drinking on a full stomach isnt much different from drinking on an empty stomach.

Beer doesnt affect riding as much as other alcoholic drinks do.

A glass of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as a glass of wine or an average cocktail. In some cases, even small amounts of alcohol can cause a rider to be impaired.

Coffee will reduce the effects of alcohol.

The only thing that reduces the effects of alcohol is time.

Facts about drugs

CrashFact
Q. What is the most common motorcycle crash that results in death? A. The rider who has been drinking, cant make a curve, runs off the road and strikes an object. This most often happens on the weekend, late at night.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Arlington, VA

Drugs and riding

Drugs and medications can impair riding. If you are taking medications or drugs, you need to know how they can affect your ability to ride safely. Drugs affect different people differently. If there is any doubt about safety, dont ride.

Medications
Over-the-counter medicines for allergies, coughs, colds and nausea can cause: drowsiness inattentiveness Prescriptions including sedatives, tranquilizers, painkillers and some antidepressants can affect: alertness concentration reaction time

RoadSense Tip
If you are feeling impaired after taking a drug or medication, dont ride until the effect has worn off.

These effects can continue for many hours after the medicine is taken.

Protecting yourself from impairment

If you are taking any drugs or medications, read the package label or brochure to nd out the effects on riding, or ask your doctor or

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pharmacist how the drug or medication may affect riding safety. If you are taking more than one medication, be sure to ask about their combined effects on riding. If your doctor or pharmacist cautions you that a medication is likely to interfere with riding safety, heed their advice. If you are feeling impaired after taking a medication, dont ride arrange for alternate transportation until the effect has worn off.

RoadSense Tip
Always read the label of any medication you are taking to see if it can affect riding. If you are taking more than one medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor about their combined effects on riding.

Illegal drugs
Recreational or street drugs such as speed, heroin, and cocaine have a wide variety of effects including those noted above, as well as: hallucinations altered perception

How? ? WhatW hy?

feelings of invincibility lack of judgement

Think About
Is it worth it to drink and ride? You could crash and you or your passenger could be killed or injured. You may spend time in jail. You could lose your licence. You may have to pay large nes. Your insurance may not pay for any injuries or damage you cause. Your motorcycle could be impounded.

Marijuana may cause a rider to: have difculty following the movement of vehicles or pedestrians accurately misunderstand visual cues from the driving environment delay responses, especially in emergency situations

Drugs and alcohol

Many drugs, when combined with even small amounts of alcohol will cause greatly increased impairment.

Strategies: Protecting Yourself from Impairment

To get home safely:

Arrange to have your bike secured in a safe place and take a taxi or bus home if you are impaired. If you know you will be drinking, leave your bike at home and arrange another way to travel. Refuse to be a passenger when the motorcyclist or driver is impaired. Take a stand. Dont let people who are impaired ride a motorcycle or drive a car. Someone may thank you later for holding onto their keys. Arrange a ride home for a friend who is impaired. Use positive peer pressure by getting friends to help ensure no one in your group rides while impaired.

CrashFact
A driver who combines alcohol and drugs is 9 times more likely to have a crash than a sober driver.
Australian study, O. Drummer, 1994

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Chapter 11, Your Licence, talks about some of the nes and charges for impaired riding.

Chapter 8 Personal Strategies

Combining even a small amount of alcohol with drugs increases your risk of a crash.
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Taking Risks
Thinking Like a Rider
Youve just bought a powerful bike and youre riding alone on a quiet country road. There is no other trafc in sight. You come to a straight stretch, and youre tempted to see how fast your new bike can go. What will you do?

? WhatW

How?

hy?

Think About
About 89 per cent of motorcycle collisions in B.C. happen on dry roads. About 78 per cent of motorcycle collisions happen during the day. Why did these riders crash?
Trafc Collision Statistics: British Columbia (2003)

How will you manage risk? Riders differ in the way they manage risk. You probably know riders who arent sure what to do in difcult situations and who are nervous around other road users. These people lack condence in their skills. And then there are overcondent riders the ones who think they are much better riders than they really are. Both undercondent and overcondent riders need to learn more about riding and take more time to practise their skills. A few people adopt a dangerous riding style and seek excitement through speeding and taking risks. These people are thrill seekers they enjoy speeding, tailgating or passing unsafely. What kind of riding style are you aiming for? Do you want to stay within your skill level? Do you think it is better to be cautious than to take chances? You are responsible for the kind of riding style you choose. How often do you take risks?
How often do you: Shoulder check? Drive within the speed limit? Signal? Avoid drinking and riding? Leave good space margins? Always Sometimes Never

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Strategies: Identifying Your Riding Style
To identify your riding style:

Ask someone you trust to give you some feedback on your riding skills and style. Analyze your style. If you have a close call, ask yourself why it happened and think of how you can ride more safely so that it wont happen again. When you watch a motorcycle chase scene in a movie, be critical. Ask yourself: What message am I getting? Do I agree with the message? Will this message affect my riding style? Do you nd yourself always blaming other road users? Ask yourself: Is it really their fault, or could it be me?

Peer Pressure
Thinking Like a Rider
Youve been riding for about four months and you are pretty excited because a couple of friends have invited you out for a ride. They are more experienced than you are. The three of you speed up together and head for the highway. Once on the highway you quickly realize that your friends are taking the curves faster than you want to. What should you do?

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Its hard to resist peer pressure. All of us want to belong, so we are sensitive to what others think of us. There are two kinds of peer pressure: positive and negative. Friends who persuade you to do the right thing because they care about you are using positive peer pressure. On the other hand, friends or acquaintances who encourage you to do something dangerous are exerting negative pressure on you. It takes a lot of practice to learn how to resist peer pressure in a way that lets you keep your friends without putting yourself in danger.

Strategies: Handling Negative Peer Pressure

Try using these four steps to help you resist negative peer pressure: 1. Identify the problem. If you speed up you are putting yourself in serious danger. If you dont speed up, you will fall behind your friends. 2. Think about the consequences. If you choose to keep up, you could get into a crash and be injured. You could wreck your bike. On the other hand, you could lose face with your friends. 3. Identify alternatives. What would happen if you rode at a safe speed and met up with them later? 4. Follow through. Choose an alternative and take action. Put your safety rst.

Warning
You are not allowed to carry passengers with a learners licence or with a Class 6 or 8 licence that has a passenger restriction.

Passengers
Thinking Like a Rider
You nally have your Class 6 licence. To celebrate, you are going out with two friends for a ride. But rst, you have to pick up one of the friends and take him over to his sisters where he left his bike. Just before you leave the house, you start thinking about how your bike will handle with a passenger. Will it accelerate as quickly? How will it take the curves? How will the brakes respond? Will you have trouble because of the extra weight? What should you do?

Carrying passengers
Whenever you carry a passenger, you will need to make adjustments both to your riding techniques and to your motorcycle in order to compensate for the extra weight of the passenger.

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Carrying a passenger will affect how your bike handles. You may have slower acceleration and need longer braking distances. Your turns may be disturbed because the passenger leans more than you expect. The balance of the bike may be off, especially at lower speeds.

RoadSense Tip
Never carry a passenger unless you are experienced and condent of your riding skills. (Experts suggest you have about 2,500 kilometres of riding experience before carrying a passenger.)

Check the following to prepare your bike to take a passenger:

tire pressure (check your owners manual for specications for

carrying extra weight)

suspension to handle extra weight headlamp aim, if necessary mirrors, after you and the passenger are seated on the bike

Strategies: Carrying Passengers Safely

To get passengers home safely:

Have your passenger sit behind you on a proper seat with proper footrests. Avoid heavy braking and abrupt acceleration. Be prepared to ride at slower speeds, especially when turning or on curves.

Taking responsibility for passengers

If you are carrying a passenger, you are responsible for his or her safety.

This passenger is sitting in a safe riding position and is wearing the right gear.
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Strategies: Keeping Passengers Safe RoadSense Tip
Make sure your passengers always wear a legal helmet and appropriate clothing and footwear. If they dont want to wear a helmet, remind them that a helmet must be used in B.C. and passengers without one can be ned.

Make sure your passenger has a helmet. Check that the passengers gear is reective and bright and adequate for the riding conditions. Do not let the passenger dismount while the bike is moving. Commit some time to teaching your passengers how to ride safely. Think carefully before taking a passenger you are responsible for their safety.

Strategies: Being a Safe Passenger

Always sit facing forward and astride the motorcycle. Always keep both feet on the passenger footrests. Go with the lean of the motorcycle. Hold onto the riders waist or the grab rail for stability and safety. Keep your legs away from the exhaust system. Sit still and avoid turning around and looking behind, or leaning to the side to see ahead. Tighten your hold when the bike is about to stop or start or when the bike makes any sudden move. Agree on a way to let the rider know if you become frightened, so that the rider can pull over and discuss the situation.

Aggression on the Road

Thinking Like a Rider
Its late at night and you are riding in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. A vehicle comes speeding up behind you and sits right on your tail. The driver starts icking the headlights back and forth from high to low beam. What should you do?

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It is often difcult to know what to do when faced with road users who are aggressive. Their lack of courtesy and bad driving habits can lead to crashes. Although extreme aggression, or road rage, is not common, mild aggression can escalate if you are not careful. How should you respond?

Strategies: Handling Other Drivers Aggression

When other drivers act aggressively:

Respond with good manners give the other road user plenty of room and the right-of-way. As a rider you are vulnerable. Never return aggression avoid eye contact and dont gesture back. Keep away from erratic road users. Keep calm. If youre in a situation in which you feel threatened, get help. Ride to a location where there are plenty of people (e.g., a shopping mall or police station). Do not go home if you are being followed.

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Preventing aggression
How can you make sure you dont increase the anger or frustration of other drivers and riders? If you use your road sense, allow plenty of space and give others the right-of-way, you can help prevent situations that cause aggression.

Strategies: Preventing Aggression

Help prevent drivers from becoming frustrated or angry:

Dont park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities. Never use turning lanes or shoulders to get ahead of backed-up trafc. Dont split lanes. Dont race your engine unnecessarily. Loud noise causes stress and irritation. How quiet is your bike? Follow at a generous distance. Give up the right-of-way. Move over for merging trafc. Pull over and let the other road users go by if you are impeding trafc. Dont block passing lanes. Signal your intentions well before you move. Dont use your horn unnecessarily.

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Right now in British Columbia, there is a very long list of people waiting for organ and tissue transplants. For some, the gift of an organ will not come in time. Yet only 12 per cent of people in BC are registered to be an organ donor. Everyone has the potential to be an organ donor. There are no age limits.

Organ Donor Registry

Until a few years ago, you could have a decal placed on your drivers licence to indicate your intent to become an organ donor. The Organ Donor Registry, implemented in 1997, replaced all previous ways of indicating your decision about organ donation. The Registry allows you to make an educated decision about organ donation and legally record your decision. It also removes this difcult decision from surviving family members during the grieving period a time when this kind of decision is most difcult. The Registry is accessible 24 hours a day to health care professionals in an Emergency Room and/or an Intensive Care Unit.

How to register
Organ Donor Registration forms are available at all ICBC driver licensing ofces, ICBC claim centres and Autoplan brokers. You can also register online at www.transplant.bc.ca or by calling 1-800-663-6189. Please register to be an organ donor. You could save a life. And live on.

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